Telegram-herald., 1887-10-27
THE BELT LINE ROAD
WHAT CITIZENS THINK Of II.
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A@lSfar1 faoIt1A, AtAccs &hf-s. rLe1-
aAzn. Doyle. sEessrt. SssIa sAa the Mayor
we're nOf present 81 o'eieok, when Pres
dent Hayward of the Common Secncll
took The Mayors chair and called the
special session Of the easy iegislsturs 10
order. The President stated that TIE objsos
Of this special meeting Vas 70 eonsieeT the
Belt ilae ordinance. lie suggested that
The Council resolve itself into q COMMITTEES
OF the whole and listen ~ TIE arguments
Of ei'iEens on the question.
On motion TINS action Was taken. Only
about twenty-five CT thirty ciaEens were
preseut--Dot ne-hslf Of TIE stock holders 81
The JHelG line beng 2 tie ehzinper
Alderman Hayward called alderman DE
GIsai 10 his seat around the Board.
Alderman Hayward said that the Council
would ike 10 bear ffouI ex-Q0ugfessnl
COinstock.
Mr.. Comstoek believed that the building
OF the Belt Line was of more importance TO
the growth OF Grand Rapids than any new
line Of railroad any v here. lie had believed
IN the road for fifteen years. lie believed
ia street railways II he owned every bit
Of property On that Line he should not OBJ
iect TO the line Some Lfteen years ago
he and Others spent great deal 0f money
in getting the night OF way for this liDe
much OF IL he bad retained. The Belt Line
would relieve the streets Of hundreds OF
teams.
Mr.. Comstock said be did not want 20
make any remarks until he had something
10 reply 10.
VIM I. Powers said that be believed that
such road as the one proposed would be
= great cetriment TO some property on that
line. and that it would be injurious 10 Ia e
public generally.
Geo. T. Wsnty stated that several man
utactuTers had requested him 10 present
their views TO the Council. The manufsc-
tnreTS believed that the line would be a
great damage TO them. This Was net TO be
compared 70 a street railway, where the
general pSblic is benefited. Those who
are interested IN the belt line are those who
have freight te carry, and those who are 10
enjoy the franchise OF carrying il. lie said
that all Of the property owners except three
from Huron-st. 20 the sout6 terminus had
signed remonstrance against the line.
They preferred - ship their goods as they
shiD. them now, for the reason that very
few of them ship ia carload lots. To put
these tracks IN the streets. as proposed. would
virtually c0nhscate those streets and Dttur-
ally weuld reduce the value Of property on
those streets which cross them. IL fhes {
streets were occupied by cars IL wonld be a
great obstacle in case of fire in that vicinity.
The city would be liable for accidents that
might happen on the proposed Belt line.
Mr.. Wsnty read s case from the Iowa re-
| port 10 subsantiate his assertion.
| Judge Burilngame thought that every citizen
in Grand Rapids was interested in the Bel,
line. He would ask Mr.. VANITY what law
there was that would apply 10 the Belt line
! that did not apply 10 the lines already ip
| operation here. why not put q circle
around Grand Rapids and keep all railroads
/ outside the city limits in order that the city
may not be liable tor damages on account
| OF accidents. This road will not damage
Cansl-st. Many of our jobbers have moved
| from Canal and Pearl-st.. TO the southe m
| part of the city near the depois. his il
not second class town. but growing bus
mess city. and any increase in the carrying
| facilities should be encouraged"
| Sir. Wsnty in reply 10 Judge Burlingame
| said that he would admit that the Belt line
| would not be any more liable than other
| lines in the city. Before passing ihis oriin-
| ance the Council should get the opinion oi
| the city attorney.
| he did not think it right TO shove thi,
| improvement down the thTOats OF the peo-
| pie owning property along this line, against
| their wishes. Their desires certainly shouid
| be entitled 70 some consideration at ths
| hands OF the Council.
| Hon. G. L. ComslOck again addressed the
| Council and asked 10 know how Campau
street would be coufiscated, the sireel
| would a.ways be open 10 general traffic
| This line wonld be relief to the genera
| highways. He attributed the opposition %
| the line 20 sectional feeling and sefshncss
| and that the opponents did not have ths
general interest of the city al neart.
4 haf ha al fo~1s a
| business on Canal So for twelve years, and
| during that time regretted the absence Of a
| Belt line. snd that bis firm was anxious "a
| get near the depot where they could be &C
/ commodste1.
| E.F. Uhl said that be was interested in q
| piece Of property on the line. and he thought
| that the line would seriously damage thou
sands Of dollars' worth OF property. A
steam power railway j. a damage 10 the
| street while the street railway is a relief 70
| the street lie denounced the line as gres:
| de.riment TO the streets and property ada
| cent TO IT, He did not believe the pubic
| were interested in the line. Il va. merely
| few private individuals who bad litIie
4 freight TO carry.
! +. A. Rsniville said that il the line would
! relieve tse streets he would be ia favor ol
| il going up Monroe and Canal-sts. There
| was no one more anxious TO advance the
/
| he would not oppose any measure that
| would improve the city.
Mr.. Rose OF The Valley City Milling
| Company. said that tbey handled twelve to
| ffteez carloads Of freight day. and that
| the line would be great accommodation
| TO them. and would relieve manufsctur-
ers in the northern part Of the city.
Col. George q. Briggs. one Of the Belt line
| company. stated that Trey had proposed "a
secare . benefit 70 large section Of the
| city without damage 20 aDybody else.
| choke tie line down anybody
| thFosi. In fsct II ibs line ws'
| going to injure - many people and hs sr
| Object or harm be lBriggsa would oppose II
phil0 q. Fuller declared that tie ire
| would save IRE manufacturers IN The north.
| ern PAR of The efT ihoussDds ef d0l1r
Mr. John HoEntt Of the chair Comps1v
stated t8st the line voUis b~ great ssr
! vice 70 tfsn. UHver Nafers s&ld that -
! lire voal6 b. = erssf bsne1' - the Aiohf
| gan Bsrlsl C0mT-ny
| Freeman ff0ef-sr ssid Re zss n favor o.
81 n, Eos r. Es a1mifie1 thst there yer.
q crest many people north - Rri5rs -
who vol - greatly scc0rn u7odsfed tfs
/ fts nre lnfe q - ssissn. some o. 10,
streefs through uhich 81 is proposed e.
/ extend ftr ire are very nsrre~. srr
there veui3 ~ vefy fals rsos
rsaaininF y tfseE rsre aid IN them.
tae lsrsrdV.lle tr aus line vss nor i
Csars -st q belt aes ~01i3 n4 benrft =
t pFoffrsv crnFrs oa faft street A. -.
/ frafsTf9 -~rers atear the iine grs viee.
Nr lina tfs Fad it xss iesiit fsF hiN .,
/ r.se5 aav eeatfgsson. 81 asserted thsf ~
/ ksl rkr8 tr Tsfr1a5s svef ssnee - -.
hefa erAni Raf5is f1euzhf tbst sIe'
{ wers = rarsl ffsEg faT ths tc~n sni - ~
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